Ephrata fishing derby draws crowd
Candice Boutilier/Columbia Basin Herald<br> Adriana Ruiz, 12, Moses Lake, caught a fish at the Ephrata Lions Club fishing derby at Oasis Park Saturday. After she reeled it in, her father Adrian helped her care for it.
EPHRATA — The shores of the pond at Oasis Park were lined with people Saturday morning during the Ephrata Lions Club’s free children’s fishing derby.
Lions member Bill Sangster estimated about 400 people turned out for the club’s annual event, which took place from 6 a.m. to 8 a.m. Saturday. Sangster, who was in charge of organizing the derby, guessed there were about 250 children competing.
“It was shoulder to shoulder,” Lions Club Secretary George Sisson said. “It’s amazing to get that many parents and kids to show up at 6 a.m.”
First-grader Timothy Tucker caught the largest fish of the day when he reeled in a trout that weighed 7 7/8 pounds, Sisson said.
Tucker won the grand prize – a portable DVD player and $35 gift certificate at Desert Fly Anger in Ephrata, Sangster said.
Children competed in three age groups, he added: ages 12 to 14, ages 8 to 11 and ages 7 and under. The three largest fish caught in each age group also won a prize. First place winners won a sleeping bag and tent, second place winners won a fishing pole a tackle box and third place winners received a fishing pole.